Goulburn-Murray Water Reviews Water Allocations

Goulburn-Murray Water today announced the results of a review of water allocations for the Murray , Campaspe, and Loddon water supply systems.

The allocations for the Murray System increase by 1%, with the allocation for Murray system irrigation areas and Mitta Mitta River private diverters at 100% of Water Right or Licence Volume plus 30% as Sales, and the allocation for Goulburn-Murray Water 's private diverters on the Murray and Kiewa Rivers at 100% of Licence Volume with no Sales. The volume of water available for allocation to Victorian irrigation users has only increased by a small amount, as additional water has been set aside for the Barmah-Millewa forests, and much of the recent tributary inflow to the River Murray has not been able to be stored or used.   

The small inflow to Lake Eppalock has resulted in an allocation increase of 1% to 31% of Water Right or Licence volume. The Qualification of Rights granting access to water for purposes such as stock watering, washdown, cleaning, and household use, where the allocation is insufficient to provide for these needs, remains in place for the Campaspe system.

In the Loddon system, modest inflows to storages have enabled an allocation increase of 4% to 92% of Licensed Volume.

Seasonally adjusted chances of receiving a 100% allocation by 15 February 2006 are as follows:

•           Campaspe                  less than 1 chance in 10

•           Loddon                        3 chances in 10

For the Campaspe system there is now an even chance (5 chances in 10), of receiving an allocation of 39% or greater by 15 February 2006 .

There is little chance of the Goulburn, Campaspe or Loddon systems receiving any Sales allocation this season.

The outlook for Murray systems sales allocation improvements has improved.  There is now an even chance (5 chances in 10), of receiving the maximum Sales allocation by February 2006.

The results of a review of allocations for the Murray , Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems will be announced on Thursday 15 December 2005 .

The seasonal allocations for Goulburn-Murray Water irrigators at 1 December 2005 are: